1
as in apostasy
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2
as in desertion
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Recent Examples of defection
The bulk of defections consisted of people who registered as having no religious affiliation.
—
Thomas A. Dubois, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
With Thompson’s death and the defection of former minority leader Jason Pizzo, who became an independent last month, Democrats currently have just 10 seats in the 40-member state Senate, the lowest number for the party since Reconstruction in 1872.
—Steven Lemongello, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Their slim 220-212 majority leaves little room for defections.
—Kevin Freking, Fortune, 3 July 2025
There is currently little room for error in either chamber for Republicans -- Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford three defections if all members are present and voting.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defection
Thomas A. Dubois, The Conversation, 27 June 2025
With Thompson’s death and the defection of former minority leader Jason Pizzo, who became an independent last month, Democrats currently have just 10 seats in the 40-member state Senate, the lowest number for the party since Reconstruction in 1872.
—Steven Lemongello, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
Their slim 220-212 majority leaves little room for defections.
—Kevin Freking, Fortune, 3 July 2025
There is currently little room for error in either chamber for Republicans -- Speaker Mike Johnson can only afford three defections if all members are present and voting.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for defection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for defection
Noun
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Throughout its engagement with the OIC, the special envoy has prioritized the protection of human rights, routinely championing the equal rights of religious minorities and opposing laws that criminalize blasphemy and apostasy.—
Arsalan Suleman,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Aug. 2017
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Whether his parents realize the extent of his apostasy isn’t clear.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Afterward, a mock court-martial was held, complete with the sentencing and execution of a private accused of desertion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Apr. 2025
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During the Civil War, firing squads were common for executing soldiers for desertion; in some cases, they would be blindfolded and tied to stakes before being shot.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC News,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
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National pride, in the past decade, has seen a clear schism between parties.—
Sarah Fortinsky,
The Hill,
30 June 2025
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However, a schism emerged between Republican lawmakers during the budget debates in Congress.—
Drew Kurlowski,
The Conversation,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Volunteers advocate for children who have been removed from their home from either abuse, abandonment or neglect.—
Joe Rassel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 July 2025
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But the Puerto Rican legend’s abandonment of her machine-gun reputation proved fatal in the final rounds.—
Mark Puleo,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
Noun
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The second major structural change involves one of the hallmarks of SARS-CoV-2 as compared to SARS-CoV-1: initial scission at the S1 furin cleavage site.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes,
6 May 2022
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When the nucleus ultimately disintegrates, these pieces move apart rapidly and the neck snaps quickly, a process known as scission.—
Charles Q. Choi,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2021
Noun
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Researchers set out to explore why public reactions to celebrity infidelity vary so widely.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
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The source also claimed that there were multiple instances of infidelity.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Tensions remain high between Canada and India over accusations about Indian government agents being involved in the murder of a Canadian activist for Sikh separatism in British Columbia in 2023.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 June 2025
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Trehan’s film does not broach the topic of Sikh separatism, but does feature scenes set in the Canadian parliament.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
5 June 2025
Noun
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In recent years, his son, Isaac Hayes III, has spoken out about misconceptions about his dad, who died at age 65 in 2008.—
Angela Andaloro,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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The event was started to fight misconceptions about sharks and raise conservation efforts.—
Irit Skulnik,
Baltimore Sun,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Defection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/defection. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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